Sears Sears Doesn't Honor Warranty on NEW Mower Sears Home Services- Florida Nationwide

In June 2014 I purchased a Craftsman push mower for about $275. My last Craftsman mower w/ a Briggs & Stratton engine lasted about 15 years(!) So when it finally needed to be replaced I went straight to Sears to purchase another one.

About a month after I purchased my new mower I noticed that it didn't start "first time-every time" as I've been used to w/ my previous mower.

October 14 I went to use the mower and it went about 50 ft. before slowly stalling. Afterwards the pull-start rope wouldn't extend out more than halfway. The first thing I checked was the oil level w/ the dip stick. There was oil on it. Mower wouldn't restart.

I dropped it off at Sears Oct. 15 to be sent away for IN WARRANTY repair. On Oct. 20 I received an email asking me for $263 for repairs to "short block." I explained that I didn't run over anything and that the mower was only 4 months old, and what could I have possibly done to ruin the mower after using it about 10-12x????

Their response: "The technician has gone over your lawn mower and that the engine seized because of a lack of lubrication." (Not covered under warranty).

OK, this is ridiculous! I purchased the mower, added oil and used it 10-12x. Now the technician says there's insufficiant lubrication. First of all there was oil all over the dipstick. Second ,even if there was a problem getting the oil to the engine that's an internal isasue and should be covered by warranty. Third, IF there was no oil/insufficient oil then where did the oil go? The mower is 4 months old!

Something is wrong w/ the engine and it's a construction issue. It should be covered by the factory warranty. And dealing w/ these "Carry-In Customer Escalation" team members is a waste of time. I suspect that there are STRONG incentives for their in-house technicians to deny as many claims as possible. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that bonusus are provided to those especially good at denying claims.

Sears should pay this claim. It's a BRAND NEW lawn mower for crying our loud, it shouldn't break within a couple months of purchase!